Feed mechanism for drilling apparatus



K. c. CLUFF FEED MECHANISM FOR DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1959Dec. 13, 1960 7 2,964,296

INVENTOR. KENNETH C. C LUFF 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 K.c. CLUFF 2,964,296

FEED MECHANISM FOR DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet2 mmvron. KENNETH C. C LUF'F -Dec. 13,1960 I CLUFF 2,964,296

FEED MECHANISM FOR DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet5 N N N 9 g 5 n no ,I:

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w v m N lmmvrox KENNETH C -Q BY 4 ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 K. C..C LUFF2,964,296

FEED MECHANISM FOR DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1959 4 sheets-sheet4 IN V EN TOR.

KENNETH C. CLUFF BY v ' ATTORNEY-S United States Patent i e FEEDMECHANISM FOR DRILLING APPARATUS Kenneth C. Clutf, 21 Waldo St., NewLondon, Conn.

Filed Feb. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 793,048

6 Claims. (Cl. 175-114) This invention relates to an improved feedmechanism or head for drilling apparatus.

The present invention has the broad object of improving the performanceof drill feeding or drilling mechanisms of present day construction,such as those of the type utilizing diamond drills.

While the present invention has many advantages, over conventionalfeeding heads, two advantages of particular importance are worthy ofspecial note. One of these derives from the fact that the devicecomprising the present invention is so designed as to efficientlyaccomplish the work of two wholly different and separate pieces ofmachinery presently required, as a result of which the weight of theapparatus that must be moved from place to place is approximatelyhalved. This is of particular importance, not only for the purpose ofreducing expense in drilling operations, but also by reason of the factthat less labor is required, accompanied by distinct savings in time,considering the frequent movement of drilling apparatus of this type.

As a second advantage of importance, the present apparatus is sodesigned as to completely eliminate two distinct steps in the operationof present day, conventionalheads, which steps are costly in time anddrilling efliciency. One of these is the step of changing or add ingfeed rods. The other is the step of halting operation of the machine forthe purpose of retracting the screw feed mechanism to permit a freshbite to be taken.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided anarrangement wherein there is a continuous, unending feed, and it isproposed in this way to increase production by a distinct, appreciablepercentage, which obviously would be of great importance in miningoperations, or in any of various other types of drilling operationsutilizing heavy duty, diamond drills and similar apparatus.

, Another object of importance is to facilitate the movement of theapparatus into drilling position, and to facilitate to an equal extentthe removal of said apparatus following completion of the drilling.

Yet another object is to facilitate the control and the normal operationof the mechanism, through the medium of a construction that will respondinstantaneously to the manipulation of the control handles and relatedpieces of equipment.

Yet another object of importance is to provide apparatus of thecharacter stated that will be exceedingly inexpensive, considering thehighly improved characteristics of the same when compared toconventional mechanisms now required to discharge the same functions.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawings in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of drilling apparatus accordingto the present invention; 7 I

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view substantially online 2- 2 of Figure 1;

Patented Dec. 13, 1960 Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, on thesame scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, on the same scale as Figure 2,taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, on substantiallythe same scale as Figure 2, taken approximately on line 5--5 of Figure4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Figure 2,taken approximately on line 66 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view on the same scale as Figure 2,taken approximately on line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, generally designated at 10 is adrill rod assembly which will be described in full detail hereinafter.This extends through a combined advancing, rotating, and retractingmechanism for the drill rod assembly, which mechanism has been generallydesignated at 11.

Mechanism 11 includes a housing or casing generally designated 12 formedwith a front end plate 14 having a circular main portion 15 integralwith a part-circular extension portion 16 projecting outwardly from theperiphery of the main portion. End plate 14 lies in a planeperpendicular to the length of the assembly 10, said assembly passingthrough a center opening of the end plate designated at 17 and formed ina centrally located drilling rod bearing retainer 20 of cup-shapeintegral with main portion 15 (Figure 2).

A front side wall section 22 of casing 12 is secured 'to the front endplate by a marginal series of connecting bolts 24, passing throughregistering openings of the front end plate and of a marginal, outwardlydirected, planiform flange 25 of section 22. Section 22 has a partlycylindrical extension or auxiliary portion 26 concentric with extensionportion 16, and integral with a generally cylindrical main portion 27.Main portion 27 is concentric with the main portion 15 of the front endplate 14.

The casing 12 also includes a rear section 28, having an inwardly offsetpart 30 integral with a main part 3-1. Part 30 is of a diameter lessthan that of the main part 31, .and as will be noted, main part 31 isintegral with an extension portion 32 of partly cylindrical form,aligned longitudinally of the casing with the portion 26 of the frontsection 22.

At its forward end, the casing section 28 is formed with a connectingflange 33 secured by bolts or equivalent means to the front section 22.At its rear end, casing section 28 is formed with an outwardly directed,planiform flange 34, secured by a marginal series of bolts 35 to theperiphery of a rear end plate 36 shaped correspondingly to the front endplate, so as to include a main portion 37 integral with a centrallylocated drill rod bearing retainer 38 aligned coaxially of the casingwith the retainer 20. Also formed integrally upon the rear end plate 36is an auxiliary bearing retainer 40 aligned coaxially with acorrespondingly shaped, cupped auxiliary retainer 18 of the front endplate.

Referring to Figures 3 and 6, the casing further includes a drive pinionhousing 42 fitting snugly within a circumferential recess 43 defined inthe casing through the provision of the inwardly offset part 30 ofsection 28. Housing 42 is formed integrally with a mounting plate 44secured by bolts 45 to the casing sections 22, 28 respectively.Centrally formed on the housing 42 .is an outwardly projecting,cup-shaped bearing re tainer 46.

accusev This completes the construction of the casing or housing 12.

Turning now to the drill rod assembly 10, as will be noted from Figure1, said assembly includes, in the illustrated example, a drill rodsection 48 having at its forward end a tapered, threaded extension 50adapted to engage in a complementarily shaped recess provided in therear extremity of a leading drill rod section 52. It will be understoodthat the sections 48, 52 cooperate in defining a drill rod generallydesignated at 53. It will further be understood that although only twosections are illustrated, there would obviously be any number of saidsections, according to the length of the bore that is being formed bymeans of the drilling apparatus. Additional sections would be coupledtogether, by means of the connecting arrangement shown in Figure 1 byway of example. Obviously, any of various types of separable connectionscan be employed, for the purpose of joining together adjacent,end-abutting drill rod sections to produce a drill rod 53 of thenecessary length. In normal drilling operations, additional sections areadded on, at the trailing end of the drill rod, as necessary until thedesired depth of the hole has been reached.

The leading section, as well as the section or sections 48, are formedwith uniformly spaced, circumferentially extending grooves 54, thepurpose of which will be made apparent hereinafter.

Formed in the several rod sections are axial passages, the passage ofthe section 52 being designated at 55. Said passages would be incommunication through the full length of the dn'llingrod, of course, andmight be utilized for various purposes required according to theparticular type of drilling operation being performed, as for examplefor the circulation of drilling mud through the full length of the drillstem or rod assembly.

Secured to the leading end of the section 52 is a conventional drillingbit 56.

In accordance with the present invention, the mechanism 11 is adapted toadvance or retract the drill rod or stem assembly 10. Further, themechanism 11 is adapted to rotate the assembly in either direction, at aselected, adjusted rate of speed. In accordance with the invention,mechanism 11 is designed to permit the advancement of retraction of theassembly 10 either with or without accompanying rotation, in a selecteddirection, of the assembly 10. The advantages of this arrangement willbe discussed in full detail hereinafter.

Generally designated at 57 is a driving linkage for the drill rodassembly 10. This includes, at the input end of the linkage, a driveshaft 58. Shaft 58 would be connected to any suitable source of motivepower, not shown, and it will be understood that the connection betweenthe prime mover and the shaft 58 'wouldinclude a forward-reversetransmission and clutch, neither of which have been shown in view of thefact that these are wholly conventional mechanisms.

Referring to Figure 6, the shaft 58 is secured to a beveled drive pinion60 journaled in housing 42, in mesh with the periphery of a largediameter, beveled spur gear 62 centrally apertured to receive asleeve-like forward gear carrier 64 in the bore of which the drill rodsection 52 is free to rotate. The carrier 64 is in the form of a sleeveexternally formed with spline ribs 66, with the gear 62 beingcorrespondingly splined, so as to be engaged with the carrier 64 forrotation conjointly with the carrier.

Designated at 68 is a spacer washer, receiving an axial extension of thecarrier 64. Bearing against the spacer washer 68 is a ball bearing 70through which the extension of the carrier projects, said bearing 70being mounted within the retainer 20. A retaining nut 72 is engagedagainst the bearing 70, being threaded upon external threads 73 of theend of the carrier '64.

Also splined upon the carrier are spur gears74, 76.

There are more gear teeth on the gear 74 than there are on the gear '76.

Integrally formed on the sleeve-like main portion 77 of carrier 64 is acollar 78, which cooperates with the portion 77 in defining the forwardgear carrier 64. The collar 7 8, at its periphery, is engaged with theinner race of an annular ball bearing 80, the outer race of which isengaged against an internal flange 81 of the casing section 28.

Also splined upon the carrier 64, in contact with the collar 78, is adisc 82, one face of which has a transversely concave, annular, shallowrecess 84 formed with a spirally shaped r'ib defining a spiral groove86. This is shown to particular advantage in Figures 2 and 6.

In mesh with the gears 74, 76 are spur gears 88, 90, disposed within theextension portion 26 of the front casing section 22 (Figure 2). At 92there has been designated an elongated, hollow balance shaft, extendingbetween the extension or auxiliary portions 26, 32 of the front and rearcasing sections 22, 28 respectively.

Balance shaft 92, at its opposite ends, is journaled in ball bearings 04mounted within the cupped auxiliary bearing retainers 1'8, 40respectively. Threads are formed upon the opposite extremities of thebalance shaft, receiving retaining nuts 96 engaged against therespective bearings 94 within the bearing retainers 18, 40.

The gears 88, are in substantially face-contacting relation, and thecontacting faces of the gears are formed with confronting, communicatingrecesses defining a generally circular cavity 98, in which is rotatablea straight dog 100 (see Figures 2 and 7). Dog 100 extends diametricallyof the cavity 98, as shown in Figure 7, and projects throughdiametrically opposed, longitudinal slots 101 formed in the balanceshaft where said shaft extends through the cavity. Accordingly, thebalance shaft and dog are conjointly rotatable.

The opposite ends of the dog 100 may engage lugs 102 (see Figure 7)integrally formed upon the gear 88 within cavity 98. Or, should the dog100 be shifted from its Figure 2 position, to engage the opposite wallof the cavity, said dog will now be substantially coplanar andengageable with lugs 104 formed on gear 90 and corresponding to the lugs102.

Integrally formed upon the balance shaft 92, within the respectiveauxiliary portions 26, 32 are collars 106, which,

hold the balance shaft against endwise movement in respect to thecasing.

As previously noted herein, the balance shaft is of hollow formation,and extending within the bore of the balance shaft is a shifting rod108, to one end of which the dog 100 is secured. Rod 108 is movablelongitudinally of the balance shaft, and at one end projects to the rod108. Thus, on rocking of the lever 112 from' its Figure 2 position in aclockwise direction, viewing the same as in Figure 2, the rod 108 willbe shifted longitudinally toward the left in Figure 2, so as todisengage dog 100 from lugs 102, and engage said dog with the lugs 104.

A shifting sleeve 116 is extended within the balance shaft, and ismovable longitudinally of the balance shaft,

also being movable longitudinally of the shift rod 108. Sleeve 116, atits inner end, is secured to a diametrically extending dog 118 extendingthrough opposed longitudinal slots of the balance shaft within theauxiliary portion 32. The dog 118, in one extreme position of the sleeve.116, is engageable with diametrically opposite In the opposite extremeposilugs 120 of a gear 122.

tion of the sleeve 116, the dog is engageable with lugs 124 of a gear126.

1 It will be understood that the arrangement of gears 122, 126, dog 118,and lugs 120, 124 within the auxiliary portion 32 is identical to thearrangement found in the auxiliary portion 26, having regard to gears;88, 90 and dog 100 engageable selectively with either the lugs 102 orthe lugs 104.

For the purpose of shifting the sleeve 116, there is provided a secondshift lever 128, fulcrumed on bracket 110, and engaged with acircumferentially grooved shift collar 130 secured to the outer,projecting end of sleeve 116.

I The gears 122, 126 are in mesh with gears 132, 134 splined as at 136upon a rear gear carrier generally designated 138 one end of which isjournaled in bearing 140 mounted within retainer 38 and engaged byretaining nut 142 threaded upon carrier 138.

As will be noted from Figure 3, there are more teeth on the gear 134than on the gear 132, and of course, the gears 122, 126 would be toothedcomplementarily to the toothing of the gears with which they arerespectively in mesh.

. At this point, it is to be noted that the gear ratio between gears 74,88 is different from the ratio between gears 76, 90. Further, the ratiobetween gears 132,

the complementarily splined gears 132, 134. Gears 132,:

134 are thus connected to the carrier 138 for rotation eonjointlytherewith.

Carrier 138 further includes a largediameter, thick block 144, disposedat the inner end of the sleeve 139. I Referring to Figure 4, it will beseen that the circular block 144 comprises three mating, interfitted,segmentally shaped block sections 146 each extending over an angulardistance of one-hundred twenty degrees of the circumference of block144. Sections 14 6 are secured fixedly to each other at theirperipheries by connecting bolts 148, and as will be noted from Figure 4,each section, at one of its flat side surfaces, is formed with a, deeprecess 150, While having in its opposite, side surface a shallower siderecess 152. The recesses 150,

152 of adjacent, abutting sections are in full communi-- Referring toFigures 2 and 3, in the periphery of the block 144 there is provided acircumferential series of uniformly spaced notches 158, in any one ofwhich is engageable the conically shaped tip of a locking pin 160,mounted for movement radially of the block into and out of engagementwith the block. Pin 160 is shifted radially inwardly of the blockthrough the provision of a cam block 162 (see Figure 2) having a camsurface engaged with a correspondingly shaped cam surfaceon the outerend of the pin 160. Responsive to movement of the cam block'162 in apathparallel to be, shifted radially inwardly of the block.

theaxis of rotation 'of the block 144, the pin 160 will Ma nualoperation of the cam block is provided- I In Figures 2 and 3-, it willbe seen thatthe; block 162 til-idesin alJ-shaped'cam block retainer-163secured to of the cam block, to limit movement of the cam block intheopposite direction.

Designated at are stub shafts or axles (see Figure 4) respectivelyprojecting across the central portions of the cavities 154. Freelyrotatable upon the shafts 170 are drill stem feed wheels 172 each ofwhich rotates in a plane that is disposed radially of the axis ofrotation of the drill stem or rod assembly 10, each of said wheels 172turning on an axis normal to the axis of rotation of the drill rodassembly.

The particular formation 'of each wheel 172 is of importance. As will benoted, each wheel 172 at one face thereof, has a large diameter portion173, which is relatively thin, and which is formed with a peripheralseries of teeth. The portion 173 of each wheel is integral with a thick,smaller-diameter portion 174.

The teeth of each portion 173 have been designated at 176 and as shownin Figure 2 are in mesh with the disc 82, extending into the spiralgroove 86 of said disc 82. Each wheel 172, of course, turns in a planeper. pendicular to the plane of rotation of the disc 82. Rotation ofdisc 82 about the axis of rotation of the drill rod assembly 10, as aresult, causes rotation ,of the several wheels 172 about their axesdefined by the stub shafts or axles 170.

Designated at 178 are the teeth of the thicker portion: 174. As will beseen from Figure 2, the teeth 178- are uniformly spaced about thecircumference of the smaller diameter wheel portion 174. However, asseenfrom Figure 4, it will be observed that each tooth 178 is formed with aV-shaped notch 180 intermediate its opposite sides.

It is now appropriate to note, from Figures 1, 4 and 5, that each drillrod section, within its circumferential grooves 54, has acircumferential series of teeth 182. These are complementary to thenotched teeth of the wheel portions 174, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

With particular reference at this point to Figure 2, the teeth 178extend into the circumferential grooves 54, so that in effect, there isa rack-and-pinion engagement between the wheel portions 174 and thedrill rod assemby. Therefore, on rotation of the wheels 172 about theaxles 170, the drill rod assembly will be shifted in the direction ofits length, in such a way as to either advance or retract the same, asthe case may be.

It is also to be noted that due to the engagement 'of the teeth 182 inthe notches of the teeth178, the drill rod assembly will be rotatedconjointly with the rear gear carrier, during the operation of advancingor retracting said assembly. I

It is now appropriate to consider the operation of the device.

In use, drive shaft 58 rotates drive pinion 60, driving beveled gear 62.This drives the forward gear carrier Assuming 'for the sake of examplethat dog 100 is in the Figure 2 position, the rotation of gear 88 willcause corresponding rotation of the dog and, accordingly, -of l thebalance shaft 92, since the dog extends through th j opposedlongitudinal slots of the balance shaft.

This in turn causes rotation of dog 118 with the 'bal 'i ance shaft 92,and if the dog 118 should be in the Figure will cause correspondingrotation 'of v 2 position, said dog the gear 122.;

Gear l22will accordingly cause rotation of thegear'i 132, and hence ofthe carrier "138 on which gear 132 is :splined.

"With the carrier rotating, 'the wheels -172 -will be turned bodily,traveling in a circular path about the drill rod assembly.

his "to be noted, at-this point, that disc 82 will have been alreadyrotating, with the forward gear carrier "64. Therefore, wheels 172 willbe rotated about the axes defined by their respective axles 170,simultaneously'with travel of the wheels bodily in the above mentionedcircular path about the drill rod assembly axis.

Rotation of the wheels 172 about the axles 170 will cause shifting ofthe drill rod "or "stem assembly 10 in the direction of "its length.Travel of the Wheels 172 in the circular path about the drill rodassembly .10 will cause rotation of the assembly 10 about itslongitudinal axis, due to the interenga'gern'ent between the notchedtseeth 178 and the teeth 182 provided within-the grooves Therefore, innormal operation of the device, the drill nod assembly will be advancedto penetratethe formation in which the apparatus is being used.Simultaneously with the advancement, of the assembly 10 into theformation in which the hole is to beformed, there will be a twisting orrotation of the assembly, to produce operation of the drill bit in thedrilling of the hole.

The speed of rotation of assembly 10 is controllable, Within apredetermined range, according to the hardness of the formation beingdrilled.

This control results from the arrangement utilizing a first set of gears74, 88 of one ratio, a second :set of gears 76,9!) of another ratio,.athirdset .of gears 134, 126 which will also :be of .a certain, selectedratio, and a fourth set of gears 132, 122 which will be of a ratiodifferent from that of the third set, in the same manner as the ratio ofthe first set is different from the ratio of the second set.

-In one arrangement, dogs 100, 118 :can -be 'in the Figure 2 positionsshown. This will drive the rear gear carrier through the medium of thefirst and fourth sets of gears, producing rotation of the rear carrier(and hence of the drill rod assembly) at a pre-selectedrrate of speed.

.In another arrangement, .dog 100 may be engaged with gear 90, with dog118 left in its Figure 2 position. This will rotate carrier 138 throughthe medium of the second and fourth sets.

In 'yet another arrangement, as will be obvious, carrier 138 may bedriven through the medium of the first and third sets of spur gears,while in a fourth arrangement rotation of the rear carrier may beeffected by drivingly linking the second and fourth sets.

All, this, of course, is permitted by operation of the levers 112, 128to selective positions relative to each other.

Assuming that the drilling operation is to commence in a hole that haspreviously been formed, or in any other situation in which the actualdrilling is to begin at a substantial distance forwardly of themechanism 11, it is possible to advance the drill rod assembly withoutrotation thereof. This is done by engaging the lock pin 160 with theblock 144 of the rear carrier, while locating dog 100 in aneutralposition between and wholly out of engagement with both the lugs 102 andlugs 104. In these circumstances, when shaft 58 is driven from thesource of motive power, the forward gear carrier, and hence the gears88, 90 will be driven. However, no drive will be transmitted to the reargear carrier since the balance shaft 92 will not be driven in thesecircumstanQS- Alternatively, the :rear carrier 138 can be disengaged,even though the lugs 102 or lugs 104 remain engaged with dog 100. In.these circumstances, one need merely 8 shift the dog 1-18'to-a neutralposition, so that itwill not drive the gear 122 or 126.

'-It will thus be seen that with shaft 58 rotating, the assembly 10w'ill'be advanced, until it reaches the point at which the drillingoperation is to commence. At this time, the advancement of the assemblywithout rotation thereof is of course no longer desirable, and onemerely operates lever 112 or 128 as the case may be to engage thedriving linkage with the rear carrier, this being possible withouthalting the forward movement of the assembly. The assembly will now becaused to rotate, to start the drilling operation.

At the completion of the drilling operation, the entire assembly can beretracted without rotation. One merely reverses the direction ofrotation of the shaft 58, while operating lever 112 or 128 to a positionsuch as to disengage the carrier 138 from its associated drivinglinkage. In these circumstances, longitudinal movement of the drill rodassembly in a retrograde direction will occur, without rotation of saidassembly.

Of course, during the retraction of the assembly, it can be rotated in adirection which is reverse to the direction in which the assembly 10 isturned during the actual drilling, this being possible by suitableoperation of the shift levers 112, 128 to engage the rear carrier 138with the reversely rotating gears associated therewith.

It will be seen that the arrangement is one which permits a wide varietyof conditions to be efficiently met, with a high degree of ease andspeed so far as the operator of the drilling equipment is concerned. Itwill be further noted that the arrangement is one which eliminates'heavyequipment now required for rotating the drill stem, advancing the same,etc. In one, compact, readily portable unit, applicant achieves all thefunctions which have heretofore been performed by a plurality ofindividual, heavy units, all of which must be separately transportedfrom placeto place. Apparatus of the kind illustrated is moved with muchfrequency, and in fact, must be moved, often great distances, each timeit is to be used. In accordance with the construction illustrated anddescribed, the portability of the entire drilling apparatus is markedlyenhanced, permitting reduction in the number of workers, considerablesavings in time, and the attainment of several other obviously desirableobjects.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for rotating and axially feeding a drill bit, comprising ahousing; a rod journaled therein and having a leading end to which adrill bit is connectable,

said rod having a longitudinal series of circumferential grooves;axially spaced first and second sleeves in the housing receiving therod, said sleeves being free to rotate relative to each other and to therod; means for rotating one of said sleeves; a driving linkage of thechange-speed type connecting the sleeves for conjoint rotation atdifferent speeds; a disc concentric with the rod and secured to thefirst sleeve for rotation therewith, said disc having one face formedwith a spiral groove having said axis as its center; bearing meansconnected to the second sleeve for rotation therewith; and at least onewheel journaled in the bearing means for rotation about an axis normalto that of the drill rod, said wheel having its entire area disposedlaterally outwardly from'the rod axis so as to be carried bodily in acircular path thereabout 'at the rotational speed of the second sleeve,the wheel having a first series of teeth meshed with'the spiral grooveso as to rotate the wheel about the secondnamed axis responsive torotation of the sleeves at dif-. ferent speeds, said wheel having asecond series of teeth in mesh with the grooves to constitute the wheeland rod as a pinion and rack operative to shift the rod axiallyresponsive to rotation of the wheel about the secondnamed axis, the wallof each groove being shaped for engaging the teeth of the second seriesagainst slippage in a direction circumferentially of the rod, whereby tointerlock the rod and wheel for conjoint rotation about the second axis'in response to travel of the wheel in said circular path.

2. A device for rotating and axially feeding a drill bit, comprising ahousing; a rod journaled therein and having a leading end to which adrill bit is connectable, said rod having a longitudinal series ofcircumferential grooves each of which has a wall formed with teethangularly spaced about the rod; axially spaced first and second sleevesin the housing receiving the rod, said. sleeves being free to rotaterelative to each other and to the rod;-

means for rotating one of the sleeves; a driving linkage of thechange-speed type connecting the sleeves for conjoint rotation atdifferent speeds; a disc concentric with the rod and secured to thefirst sleeve for rotation' therewith, said disc having one face formedwith a spiral groove having said axis as its center; bearing meansconnected to the second sleeve for rotation therewith; and at168.811.0118 wheel journaled in the bearing means for rotation about anaxis normal to that of the "drill rod, said wheel having its entire areadisposed laterally outwardly from the rod axis so as to be carriedbodily in a circular path thereabout at the rotational speed of thesecond sleeve, the wheel having side-by-side, rigidly joined portionsone of which has .a peripheral series of teeth meshed with the spiralgroove so as to rotate the wheel about the second-named axis responsiveto rotation of the sleeves at different speeds, the other portion of thewheel having a peripheral series of teeth in mesh withthe grooves toconstitute the wheel and rod as a pinion and rack operative to shift therod axially responsive to rotation of the wheel about the second-namedaxis, the teeth of the second-named wheel portion having notches matingwith the teeth of the rod to interlock the rod and wheel for conjointrotation about the second axis in response to travel of the wheel insaid circular ath.

3. A device for rotating and axially feeding a drill bit, comprising ahousing; a rod journaled therein and having a leading end to which adrill bit is connectable, said rod having a longitudinal series ofcircumferential grooves each of which has a wall formed with teethangularly spaced about the rod circumference; axially spaced first andsecond sleeves in the housing receiving the rod, said sleeves beingrotatable relative to each other and to the rod; means for rotating oneof the sleeves; a driving linkage of the change-speed type connectingthe sleeves for conjoint rotation at different speeds; a disc concentricwith the rod and lying in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said discbeing secured to the first sleeve for rotation therewith and having aface formed with a spiral groove having said axis as its center; abearing block projecting radially outwardly from and rigidly connectedto the second sleeve so as to rotate about said axis of the rod; atleast one wheel journaled in the bearing block for rotation in a planeperpendicular to that of the disc, about an axis normal to the axis ofthe rod, said wheel v. having its entire area disposed laterallyoutwardly from the rod axis so. as to be carried bodily in a circularpath thereabout at the rotational speed of the second sleeve, thewheel-having side-by-side, rigidly joined portions in parallel planesone of which portions has a peripheral series of teeth meshed with thespiral groove so as to rotate the wheel about the second-named axisresponsive to rotation of the sleeves at different speeds, the otherportion of the wheel having a peripheral series of teeth in mesh withthe grooves to constitute the wheel and rod as a pinion and rackoperative to shift the rod axially re-- sponsive to rotation of thewheel about the second-namedrod having a longitudinal series ofcircumferential grooves each of which has a wall formed with teethprojecting.

radially outwardly from the rod axis and angularly spaced about thecircumference of the rod; axially spaced first and second sleeves in thehousing receiving the rod, said sleeves being rotatable relative to eachother and to the rod; means for rotating one of the sleeves; a drivinglink-'- age of the change-speed type connecting the sleeves for conjointrotation at different speeds, said linkage including at least one gearsecured to each sleeve for rotation therewith, gears in mesh with therespective first-named gears, and a driving connection between thesecondnamed gears; a disc concentric with the rod and lying in a planeperpendicular to said axis, said disc being secured Y to the firstsleeve for rotation therewith and having one face in confrontingrelation to the second sleeve and formed with a spiral groove havingsaid axis as its center; a bearing block projecting radially outwardlyfrom the second sleeve adjacent said face of thedisc and rigidlyconnected to the first sleeve so as to rotate about said axis of therod; at least one wheel journaled in the hearing block for rotation in aplane perpendicular to that of the disc about an axis normal to the rodaxis, said disc, block, and wheel being disposed between the first-namedgears and being bridged by the driving connection, said wheel having itsentire area disposed laterally outwardly from the rod axis so as to becarried bodily by the block in a circular path about said rod axis atthe rotational speed of the second sleeve, the wheel havingside-by-side, rigidly joined portions in parallel planes, one of whichwheel portions has a peripheral series of teeth meshed with the spiralgroove so as to rotate the wheel about the second-named axis responsiveto rotation of the sleeves at difierent speeds, the other portion of thewheel having a peripheral series of teeth in mesh with the grooves toconstitute the wheel and rod as a pinion and rack operativetto shift therod axially responsive to rotation of the wheel about the second-namedaxis, the teeth of the second-named wheel portion having notches matingwith the teeth of the rod to interlock the rod and wheel for conjointrotation about the second axis responsive to travel of the wheel in itscircular path.

5. A device for rotating and axially feeding a drill bit, comprising ahousing; a rod journaled therein and having a leading end to which adrill bit is connectable, said rod having a longitudinal series ofcircumferential grooves each of which has a wall formed with teethprojecting radially outwardly from the rod axis and angularly spacedabout the circumference of the rod; axially spaced first and secondsleeves in the housing receiving the rod, said sleeves being rotatablerelative to each other and to the rod; means for rotating one of thesleeves; a driving linkage of the change-speed type connecting thesleeves for conjoint rotation at difierent speeds, said linkageincluding a pair of first gears secured to the first sleeve for rotationtherewith, a pair of second gears respectively in mesh with therespective first gears, a pair of third gears secured to the secondsleeve for rotation therewith, a pair of fourth gears respectively inmesh with the respective third gears, and a driving connection betweenthe third and fourth gears including clutch means operatively arrangedto selectively, drivingly connect either third gear with either fourthgear; a disc concentric with the rod and lying in a plane perpendicularto said axis, said disc being secured to the first sleeve for rotationthere,

sweetest with fan'd having --one face in confronting relation to thesecond sleeveand'formed with a spira'l groove having said axis as itscenter; abearing block projecting radially outwardly from the secondsleeve adjacent said face of *the disc and rigidly connected to thefirst sleeve so as to rotate about said axis of the rod; at least onewheel journaled in the bearing block for rotation in a planeperpendicular to that of the disc about an axis normal to the rod axis,said disc, block, and wheel being disposed between the first-namedgearsand being bridged by the driving connection, said wheel having itsentire area disposed laterally outwardly from the rod axis so as 'tobecarried bodily by the block in a circular path about said rod axis attherota'tional speed of the second sleeve,'the wheel havingside-by-side, rigidly joined portions in'parallel planes, one of whichwheel portions has a peripheral series of teeth meshed with the spiralgroove so as to rotate the wheel about the second-named axis responsiveto rotation of the sleeves at different speeds, the other portion of thewheel having a peripheral series of teeth in mesh with the grooves toconstitute the wheel and rod as a pinion and rack operative to shift therod axially responsive to rotation of the wheel about the secondnamedaxis, the teeth of the second-named wheel portion having notches matingwith the teeth of the rod to interlock the rod and wheel for conjointrotation about the second axis responsive to travel of the wheel in itscircular path.

6. A device forrotating and axially feeding a drillbit,

as in claim 5, wherein the driving connection includes a tubular shaftjournaled in the housing laterally outwardly from the rod in parallelrelation with said rod, each of the third and fourth gears beingrotatably carried by the shaft and being rotatable thereon in respect tothe shaft and to theother third and fourth gears,'lugs on the severalthird and fourth gears, a shifting rod axially slidable on the shaftbetween opposite extreme positions and including a dog engaging theshaft for rotation with the shifting -rod, said dog being disposed fordrivingly engaging the lugs of one third gear in one of said extremepositions and for drivingly engaging the lugs of the fourth gear 'in theother extreme position of the shifting rod, a shifting sleeve mounted onthe shifting rod within the shaft and slidable between opposite extremepositions in respect to the shaft and shifting rod, a dog on theshifting sleeve disposed for drivingly engaging the lugs of one fourthgearin one extreme position of the shifting sleeve and the lugs of theother fourth gear in the opposite extreme position of the shiftingsleeve, said shaft drivingly engaging the dog of the shifting sleeve inboth extreme positions of the shifting sleeve, and operating handles onthe shifting rod and shifting sleeve respectively for moving thesarne toselected extreme positions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS865,148 Alsleben Sept. 3, 1907

